Clothing suitable for hiking

The first layer is the one that is attached to the body, like a second skin.
In winter, the most recommended is a thermal shirt. It should be made of an elastic material that fits the body (without tightening too much) and a synthetic fabric that...

First aid kit

We must carry a basic kit that covers the small health problems that we may have (we or the people who accompany us) during the route. The medicine cabinet has to be easily identifiable since if we are the ones who have the mishap and need help...

Hiking, mountain and active tourism guides

To take into account that the legislation in Spain depends on each Autonomous Community.
What are a guide and its functions
A guide is more than an expert in his discipline. It is more than a person with the excellent physical condition and vast...

How should the backpack be?

In the case of hiking, for departures of a few hours (the route begins and ends the same day), the characteristics of the backpack would be:
Capacity between 20 and 30 litersYou must have a download belt. That is, the weight of the backpack has to...

Legislation of Hiking and Active Tourism in Spain

It is considered an Active Tourism Company one that realizes tourist activities of recreation and adventure in the nature with profit spirit. We must also differentiate between active tourism and sports tourism. The first is done with the support of a...

How should the backpack be?

In the case of hiking, for departures of a few hours (the route begins and ends the same day), the characteristics of the backpack would be:

Capacity between 20 and 30 liters

You must have a download belt. That is, the weight of the backpack has to fall on the hip, not on the shoulders. The shoulder straps only hold the backpack so that it does not fall back; they should not put down pressure on the shoulders. The unloading belt is normally padded on the sides so that there is a good grip, but it is comfortable.

The backpack should be quite stiff in the frame (the part that is attached to the back). In this way, all the weight is transmitted to the hip. If the backpack is soft, the weight will be divided between the shoulders and the hip, and in addition, the deformation can become annoying because it does not distribute the weights in a homogeneous way.

There are models that have recessed padding for the back, or a grid that separates it slightly to facilitate perspiration.

The backpack should have compression straps (although it is not essential, it is recommended). These straps allow the backpack to be as compact as possible, even if it is not fully loaded. In this way, there are no movements in the interior or deformations during walking, and the load is closer to the back, that is, closer to the center of gravity of the body when walking.

It is recommended that the backpack is waterproof (usually quite expensive) or that it includes a waterproof case that allows it to be placed when it rains, to preserve the contents dry. Anyway, it is a good idea to carry the contents in plastic bags. Transparent zip bags are very useful for clothes, which also allow you to see the content easily.

Be careful with the straps and any item in the backpack that can get caught. We will try to collect as much as possible all these elements (for example with rubber bands or with adhesive tape). If we go along dangerous paths, we must pay special attention because a hitch with a branch or a projection of rock can unbalance us.

If you are going to take a camera and photography equipment, try to minimize the weight of this equipment. Many times we try to take many things ‘just in case,’ and in the end, we end up repenting. There are double compartment photography backpacks (one padded space for the equipment and one without padding for clothes, food, etc.) that can be a good option, especially if we are not going to take very long and demanding stretches.

There are also padded compartments that can be purchased separately, and we could use them with any standard hiking backpack, although access to the material would be a bit slower.

Another option would be to go with a normal backpack and an external case only for the camera. For example, a fanny type sleeve unloads the weight of the camera on the hip and is usually a quite comfortable complement if we go with the standard backpack on the back. Here you can find more information about types of backpacks for photography.

Remember maximum weight that we must carry: for an adult, the maximum would be 4 to 6 Kg